The Washington critic., 1887-02-15
DRAWING THE ENEMY'S FIRE.

tMnK. IL OLD MT. Massey, VINO was
widower, had had half score Of sons
and daughters, he would not have
\ Nade such mess of bringing up
Frank. i remember the story Of the
woman who said that when her first
child was an infant, she would run up
stairs half dozen times In the course
Of the evening, after she had put II In
its crib, to see II II breathed right.
But" said she, "after / had had
three, was perfectly satisfied If they
breathed at ALL" SO 1t would have
been with Mr.. Massey, but SO 1t wasn't.
He hadn't any other child but Frank,
and he continued to watch Franks
breathing until he was one and.twenty
until, indeed, he was about to be
married.
lie was about TO marry me, or that is
what he wanted to do. We were dis.
tantly related, not by blood, however,
yet had never seen each other until my
father, who was poor man, bought n
small farm adjoining Mr.. Massey's
large one. Frank kindly rode over to
see us aud claim relationship, but his
father never took that trouble.
Frank looked like his father; they
were both handsome men. Mr.. Mas.
sey was only fif.y.four, but no one ever
thought he would marry again.
When he found out how often Frank
came to our house, there was trouble.
lie forbid Frank coming to see me, but
1t was too late to prevent what he
dreaded; we were already engaged.
Its q confounded bore" said
Frank, one evening, when / met him
in the lane, out of sight of the Massey
mansion. "My team mule, Billy, is
nothing to father when he gets set
Now, supposing when we are married
that he cuts up and refuses me any
money!
"Well p said I, intcrrogattvely.
ut isn't WELL" replied Frank, i'm.
patiently. al don't see how on earth
Ia take care Of you. don't know
how TO work"
My enthusiasm was rather dampened.
Now l was not going to marry Frank
on account of his money, but | was by
no means Indifferent to II. If had
met him as n poor man, should have
loved him all the same. and should
have planned my future accordingly;
but having expected to be rich when l
married, 1t was certainly disagreeable
to be told that / might not be rich
moreover, that my husband did not
know how to work, and could not take
care of me. remember looking ut
him as he stood there under the trees,
and wondering If, with three or four
children on my hands. perhaps,
should have to take care of him. l recol-
lect that the thought cooled my ardor
little, and sat on the stone wall aud
moodily tore rosebuds to pieces during
the remainder of the interview.
didn't sleep well that night. The
next day was still incliued to look on
the dark side of things. l had cooled
so much toward Frank when l met
him again that he noticed 1t.
What Is the matter p said he. "Dd
you want to give me upf'
Don't be unreasonable, Frank,
said l, with a fretful laugh. "oi
course / don't"
Then what makes you so coldi
You jerk away from me every time
touch you as II my hand stung you"
T'm SICK" said l., land don't fee
affectionate. You cant always eXpec,
to find me in the same mood"
He stood silently looking at me. The
sight of my downcast face seemed tC
irritate him; his blue eyes grew dark
and stormy.
"You think l am going to lose my
money" said he. "lf that Is what yor
care for,Syou had better marry Ruf,
REYNOLDS and be sure of fortune. HI
has as much as l, and no father to shu
It off. Don't be discouraged, my dear
If you want to marry money you hav,
plenty of chances. There is Johnny
Wall, the old miser, who would, prob
ably, marry you tomorrow"
l was too angry TO speak, so jus
turned around and walked away.
Of course l went to bed very miser
able.
was working In the garden the mex
morning when Miss Fox came in at tn
gate. She was the village school
teacher that summer. don't know
where she came from; never knew
was very glad to become acquainted
with her, because she knew so mucl
about books, and was nearly starve,
for them.
Cant wait but moment, dear,
said she, kissing me; Its most tim
for school to take up. Why, what
the matter with your eyes? Have yo
been crying?"
We sat down on the grass and toll
her all my troubles.
Il hate that pompous old Squir
Massey" said |. "lIes rich and lazy
: and hasn't anything TO do but watch u
as cat does a mouse. Frank and
have to meet down in the lane, an
{ Franks always in i'll .humor at the fus
his father makes, and I'm perfect
miserable. No girl ever had such
hard time before 70
"My love-" said Miss Fox, "'tis in,
as you say about the Squire. He's idl,
and so makes great bugbear of Fran
marrying you, because h. has nothin
else TO think about"
"lias he Franks money, dear ?
said she, playing with my curls.
"Yes,"I answered. frank rcall
hasn't ANYTHING but what he leav,
him, excepting few hundred left b
my uncle-twelve hundred, | bellev
But he's an only child, aud It's u
same thing as being master at IL
Glades."
"Yes, of course" observed Miss Fo'
"Only he can, you know" said l, b
ginning to cry again, 'if he gets veT
angry at Frank, leave the estate an
T. everything else TO some orphan soclet
or something. And Frank says he's
stubborn as mule.
"Its nine o'clock" said Miss Fo
II must hurry to school. But don
you fret about this matter; I'll come
10 night and help you fix 1t. 'Tis not
hopeless case by any means"
we kissed each other, aud sl
tripped away up the road to the schoo
house. When she came that ev0nir
we sat down to sew and talk,
i've been thinking about you O